Manikarnika Ghat

Manikarnika Ghat is one of the oldest and most sacred ghats on the River Ganges in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Located in the old city near Kashi Vishwanath Temple, it is renowned as the primary cremation ghat where Hindu last rites are performed continuously. The ghat features the sacred Manikarnika Kund, Shiva temples, and stepped riverfront, attracting pilgrims and visitors seeking to understand Varanasi's spiritual traditions and riverside heritage.

Visitors can expect a stepped stone riverfront on the Ganges with continuous cremation activity, temple shrines, the Manikarnika Kund water tank, and narrow lanes leading to the ghat. The area is crowded, smoky from funeral pyres, and lined with wood piles, priests and dom community members. Views of the river, boats, and adjacent ghats are available from the steps and from boat rides on the Ganges. The atmosphere is solemn and ritual-focused.

Manikarnika Ghat is considered among the oldest ghats in Varanasi, mentioned in ancient texts. Tradition associates it with Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and the legend of a fallen earring (Manikarnika) at the Kund. The ghat and Manikarnika Kund were developed over centuries, with major reconstruction attributed to the 14th century and later rebuilding in 1730 by Bajirao Peshwa. The Scindia Ghat and Ratneshwar Temple nearby reflect 19th-century Maratha patronage.

In Hindu tradition, Manikarnika Ghat is revered as Maha Shamshan, the great cremation ground, where cremation is believed to lead to moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth). The sacred fire is said to have been burning continuously for centuries. The ghat is central to Varanasi's identity as a sacred city on the Ganges and is visited by pilgrims for ancestral rites and holy bathing in Manikarnika Kund.